NigelBankes

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released a draft standard requiring masks (like N95s) in health care settings to stop airborne infections.

There is a strong attempt to push back against this, so need your public comments to get this through: publicreview.csa.ca/Home/View/22...

Saskatchewan's Dr. Deirdre Nunan: a witness to genocide, a healer and truth teller.

I shd'nt need to say this but the criminal behaviour of hamas doesn't permit the state of Israel to engage in the genocide of the people of Palestine, to raze Gaza to a heap of rubble or, as announced today, to occupy Gaza city
One day Israeli leaders & commanders will be brought to justice
#cdnpoli

To athletes and coaches around the world: REFUSE to come to the United States for the 2028 Olympics. Do NOT endorse what is happening in the country. Do not come. That’s how you show you are against the authoritarian takeover.

It is estimated that the loss of the F-35 sale to Spain could result in the loss of about 290,000 jobs impacting all 50 states. Way to go Trumpanomics.

we can sneak around town / hunting working folks down / I hear they got a great benefit plan

join ICE boy ain’t it nice / join ICE take my advice

www.tiktok.com/@jessewelles...

Provincial Referendum Legislation, Citizen-Led Secession Proposals, and Non-Derogation Clauses - ABLawg By: Nigel Bankes Bill Commented On: Bill 54, Election Statutes Amendment Act PDF Version: Provincial Referendum Legislation, Citizen-Led Secession Proposals, and Non-Derogation Clauses In the dying ho...

I posted on @ablawg.bsky.social on the amendments to the Citizen Initiative Act earlier this summer here
ablawg.ca/2025/06/11/p...

Thanks for posting the letter. My read is that the AG's current position is that the govt that the AG advises enacted an absurdity when it allowed the CEO to state a Q for the court as to whether an initiative Q violates the constitution. This is a form of having yr cake & eating it too. #abpoli

Happy 40th birthday, @mardagrascalgary!

Calgary’s longest running festival is celebrating 4 decades of fun and we’re excited to join in the festivities. Drop by our booth to come say hi and talk about how we can work together to build a brighter future for Calgary. Can’t wait to see you there!

When Is An Interest In Land A Legal (As Opposed To An Equitable) Interest? - ABLawg By: Nigel Bankes Case Commented On: PrairieSky Roy2alty Ltd v Yangarra Resources Ltd, 2025 ABCA 240 (CanLII) PDF Version: When Is An Interest In Land A Legal (As Opposed To An Equitable) Interest? The principal issue in this case by the time the matter reached the Court of Appeal was the question of whether a

New Post: When Is An Interest In Land A Legal (As Opposed To An Equitable) Interest?

ablawg.ca/2025/08/01...

Good work Jeremy.
AB tax $$ supporting a MAGA agenda.
Ms Smith might as well be wearing the stars and stripes.

Well done and kudos to #yycc for fixing this hell hole within less than 24 hours of submitting the 311 request! Impressive.

Amen.

Kids under 12 in Alberta face months-long gap in COVID vaccine availability | CBC News Shuhiba Mohammad recently took her daughter for her routine childhood immunizations at age 1, and was frustrated when she was told she'd have to book a separate appointment to get a COVID vaccine. The...

Seems to me that the result of having the province (Alberta) assume responsibility for the supply of COVID vaccines is that we have zero availability.
An ideological triumph for Smith.
But a denial of human rights and a public health challenge.
#ableg #abpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Nikiforuk: "Instead of making it easier for citizens to protect themselves against a blood-clotting virus that still kills more people than influenza every year, Smith’s government has made getting a COVID shot a daunting obstacle course."
#abpoli #cdnpoli

Half of all Americans say the cost of groceries is a major source of stress.

A full-time worker in the U.S. needs to earn a wage of $33/hr to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

What is Trump focusing on today?

Scientific research is proving again and again that legacy coal mines create pollution downstream for decades, it accumulates downstream, and our government regulations are insufficient to stop it. Coal mining on the eastern slopes pollutes our water... for everyone and everything downstream.

Elderly white man takes time out from planning the renovations to his ballroom in order to discuss the problem that there aren't enough black people working the fields.

Alberta's coal mine reclamation standards failing to protect water, fish: study CALGARY - Alberta regulations meant to keep old coal mines from polluting streams and lakes are failing, suggests a study by government scientists.

READ: This report confirms what we knew all along: Regulations and this government's mismanagement of coal are failing to keep #coalmining in our rocky mountains from harming our local #water & #wildlife.

Stay Loud Alberta:
📩Email
🚫Protest
✍️Sign Petition: protectourmountains.ca

Death trap for cyclists on University Av NW east side as you pass under 16th Av. The Scylla of swerving into the traffic lane to avoid the hole or the Charybdis of hitting the hole and losing your front wheel.
Reported to 311. #yycc

According to the presser, most of the areas where black bear hunting with dogs will be allowed have resident grizzly bears, which in theory cannot be hunted. What could go wrong?

Went to the Van folk festival several times when we lived in Van in the early 80s. It was a good time!

Saskatchewan faces legal challenge for delaying coal phase-out Federal regulations require all coal-fired power plants be shut down by 2030.

Excellent news from Saskatchewan (and @molszyns.bsky.social, note the inclusion of a downwind Manitoba resident as one of the applicants)
www.sasktoday.ca/provincial-n...

Had a wonderful time at the Canmore Folk Festival this w/e despite rain & lightening interruptions.
But ...
You never see/hear it all but IMO it was politically anodyne.
The most politically vocal & only ref to Gaza I heard was from US-based Nick Shoulders. Thank you Nick.
#abpoli #cdnpoli

Surely some court in the US always has jurisdiction to hear a habeas corpus application; i.e. by what lawful authority do you hold that person.
#cdnpoli

1: Tactic 6/9 – Institutional Overhauls and Agency Creation Alt Text: The Wrecking Ball Blueprint Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics Tactic 6/9 Institutional Overhauls and Agency Creation Danielle Smith’s government is fond of bulldozing old structures and building new ones — fast. Examples Bill 55 (Health Statutes Amendment Act) (2025) – dissolves Alberta Health Services and replaces it with two new agencies. Bill 37 (Alberta Firearms Act) (2024) – created the Alberta Firearms Office from scratch. Bill 23 (Justice Statutes Amendment Act) (2025) – reorganized justice tribunals under central authority. Why It Matters New agencies offer the illusion of reform while embedding ideological goals. Oversight is minimal during transitions, and public confusion helps avoid backlash. Research – Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

Tactic 7/9 – Eroding Local Governance Alt Text: The Wrecking Ball Blueprint Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics Tactic 7/9 Eroding Local Governance A consistent through-line is the weakening of municipalities. Examples Bill 9 (Provincial Priorities Act) (2023) – let Alberta veto federal deals with cities. Bill 20 (Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act) (2025) – lets Cabinet remove councillors and overturn bylaws. Bill 46 (Municipal Affairs Amendment Act) (2024) – removed municipal codes of conduct. Why It Matters Local democracy is under siege. Cities are increasingly treated as administrative units of the province rather than democratically accountable governments. Research – Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

Tactic 8/9 – Privatization by Stealth Alt Text: The Wrecking Ball Blueprint Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics Tactic 8/9 Privatization by Stealth Direct privatization often triggers backlash. But by cutting oversight, creating new agencies, and shifting delivery models, Smith’s government is laying the groundwork for a profit-driven future. Examples Bill 30 (Health Statutes Amendment Act) (No.2) (2023) – moved labs from AHS to the Ministry — then DynaLIFE entered. Bill 55 (Health Statutes Amendment Act) (2025) – enables for-profit surgical hospitals. Bill 10 (Public Lands Statutes Amendment Act) (2024) – allows corporate land use expansions with less public input. Why It Matters The public system is being hollowed out quietly. Once the structure changes, privatization becomes inevitable. Research – Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

Tactic 9/9 – Manufactured Crises and Crisis Framing Alt Text: The Wrecking Ball Blueprint Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics Tactic 9/9 Manufactured Crises and Crisis Framing Many legislative pushes are preceded by media narratives suggesting crisis — often unsupported by data. This creates urgency and mutes dissent. Examples Bill 5 (Traffic Safety Amendment Act) (2024) – framed urban crime as out of control to expand policing powers. Bill 16 (Education Statutes Amendment Act) (Charter Schools and Parental Rights) (2024) – used moral panic over trans youth to justify parental override. Why It Matters Crisis politics bypass reason. Fear is being weaponized to reshape law. Research – Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

oops missed posting this earlier

THE WRECKING BALL BLUEPRINT Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics OMNIBUS BILLS AND TROJAN CLAUSES The Smith government often bundles unrelated laws together into single bills. These omnibus bills obscure controversial changes in a sea of technical amendments. EXAMPLES Bill 31 (Public Health Appeals and Accountability Act) included provisions on tribunals, regionalization, and executive authority — all in one go. Bill 7 (Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act) changed everything from trespassing laws to surveillance powers under the guise of public safety. WHY IT MATTERS Omnibus bills are hard to unpack and harder to resist. They dilute public awareness and fast-track controversial changes under cover. Research - Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

THE WRECKING BALL BLUEPRINT Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics GOVERNING BY REGULATION, NOT LEGISLATION One of the most under-discussed strategies is how much power is handed off to Cabinet via regulation. That means changes can be made behind closed doors, with zero debate in the legislature. EXAMPLES Bill 55 (Health Statutes Amendment Act) allows sweeping health system reforms through regulation. Bill 18 (Alberta First Act) enables Cabinet to override federal-provincial agreements via regulation. WHY IT MATTERS Regulations don’t face public hearings or debate. It centralizes power and sidelines democratic input. Research - Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

HE WRECKING BALL BLUEPRINT Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics REFERENDA AS A WEAPON Danielle Smith’s government isn’t just governing by law — it’s governing by plebiscite. Referenda are being used as tools to validate ideological decisions with minimal public buy-in. EXAMPLES Bill 54 (Election Statutes Amendment Act) slashed the referendum threshold from 20% to 10% of voters per riding over 120 days — making it dramatically easier to force referenda on complex, high-stakes issues like separation or pensions. WHY IT MATTERS With low bars and short timelines, referenda can be manipulated by fringe groups or bad-faith actors. It destabilizes democratic norms. Research - Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

THE WRECKING BALL BLUEPRINT Danielle Smith’s Legislative Demolition Tactics CENTRALIZATION OF POWER IN CABINET Under Smith, more decision-making is flowing directly to Cabinet — especially in health, education, and municipal governance. EXAMPLES Bill 16 (Education Statutes Amendment Act) gives the Minister final say on charter school approvals. Bill 20 (Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act 2025) removes locally elected officials via Cabinet order. Bill 12 (Public Health Emergencies Governance Review) ensures the CMOH can only act with Cabinet’s blessing during emergencies. WHY IT MATTERS Alberta’s system of checks and balances is being eroded. Decisions once made by arms-length experts or local representatives are now subject to direct political control. Research - Chris (@skipischris.bsky.social)

Danielle Smith’s gov is dismantling democracy by design—rushing bills, burying changes, bypassing debate & centralizing power. This isn’t reform. It’s demolition. 🧱⚠️ #ABpoli #ABleg #CDNpoli #Canpoli #YYC #YEG #Democracy #WreckingBall #AlbertaPolitics

A bold, graphic protest poster with yellow and black hazard striping, resembling a warning sign. The large title at the top reads, “NO, YOU DIDN’T VOTE FOR THIS” in black, all-caps text. Below are three text boxes listing criticisms of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government actions: "WHAT YOU WERE PROMISED BY DANIELLE SMITH" "Freedom, prosperity, and parental rights." "WHAT YOU GOT" "55 sweeping laws with no consultation or transparency" "Bill 5 – rewrote election law" "Bill 46 – dismantled public health powers" "Addiction criminalized, harm reduction attacked" "Cabinet control over pensions, curricula, municipalities" Additional criticism: "Changes not campaigned on — obscured or denied" "Passed via omnibus bills and bureaucratic language" "Rushed through with limited debate" At the bottom, another box declares: “Not a mandate – A BAIT AND SWITCH” To the right of the text, there is an image of a large wrecking ball breaking through a yellow background, symbolizing destruction.

#DanielleSmith didn’t campaign on creating an APP, a provincial police force, or ramming through bills that dismantle democracy. I’m re-upping the Wrecking Ball series to help refresh some memories. Albertans deserve to know what’s really happening. #abpoli #ABLeg #cdnpoli #UCPCorruption #yeg #yyc

My god, the US really does want to isolate itself and kill its own tourism and hospitality industries as well as in person academic discourse and research networks.
Antediluvian.

The final comments in this apparently thoroughly researched piece:
“It’s clear that there is a campaign to have the warrant for Netanyahu withdrawn. If the campaign succeeds, it will be the destruction of the International Criminal Court.
“And it will be the end of the rules-based order.”